Year 7444, Month 9, Day 9
I guess I'll try testing it on that.
I returned to "Boil Manor" just in time for lunch and after putting on my protectors, since it was troublesome I just put my sword on my waist and after grabbing my map I left right away. I had some skewers for lunch at the entrance plaza and then entered the dungeon. I ended up having to repeat teleporting a number of times but I was luckily able to teleport into an area with an {alarm} trap. It took until close to evening but I was able to practice using the spell {Find.Trap} over 100 times. Of course, even if there's no trap it's possible to practice it. However, it's easier to understand if the result shows in front of your eyes.
The alarm trap from a glance resembles the pitfall. If you step on a large board camouflaged with dirt and an alarm starts ringing out from somewhere. The moment I used the spell {Find.Trap} the camouflaged board looked red. The appearance itself is the same as {Detect.Snare} and {Perceive.Pitfall}.
After eating dinner I learned {Detect.Charm}, {Detect.Lie}, {Detect.Life}, {Dispel.Illusion}, and {Dispel.Magic} from Miduchi. For the time being I've become able to use them but I need to properly increase the number of times. There's no choice other than to find the chance and practice them.
...............
Year 7444, Month 9, Day 17
As expected of the war horse that older brother used. Though it was just around 10 km, it didn't make anything of the hills of the outer crater and arrived in a short 40 minutes.
It seems it was just as everyone was about to go for dinner. They were all in front of the company closing up shop.
"Sorry, I was late!"
"Hey~ staying healthy?"
A nostalgic face greeted me.
"I'm healthy. Quite lively. Father, mother, it's been a while."
"You've grown a bit taller."
The ones who came wasn't just older brother but father and mother as well. It seems they felt guilty for just pushing deliveries on older brother lately. And since they already handed over the nobility to older brother, it's not good that the lord is outside of the territory so often, so from here on out it will be brother, my parents, or depending on the case even sister-in-law who is leading the caravan as well.
"Al, we're about to go for dinner. I need to reward the squires and there's the Ryogu family who have been giving it their best away from the village here in the capital as well. And since it seems that Yotlen and the others are working quite hard as well. I'm feeding everyone something good as my treat today."
Oh~ that sounds good! Come to think of it I can see Ruku's face as well. Dianne seems a bit embarrassed. I'm sure tonight will be quite fun.
"Hn, so Al came? Then it should be fine for me to go too right?"
Older brother opened the door of the company headquarters and stuck his face out. I had some sweat dripping down as I didn't understand the meaning.
"Yeah, that's true. Let's do that."
Huh?
"Then, since that's the case, I'm saved Al. We've carried all of the luggage into the storm. Make sure it's not stolen. I'm counting on you. And, our carriage and horses are at the workshop."
"A, Ah.."
Older brother gathered back up with everyone while making a good smile. It would have been good if I brought along Zulu.
"Al, don't make that sort of face. Endure it for tonight. Mill is staying overnight at the workshop. We'll come back later."
"Yeah.."
I should have brought not just Zulu but Angela as well.
Seeing everyone call my parents the master and madam, Yotlen and her daughters must have felt quite tense as they dealt with them. I don't know if they pitied jsut leaving me alone here, or they were just trying to show reservation on bringing three small children to a restaurant (probably) but they said they would remain. However, I turned that offer down. If my parents are thanking everyone then it's only obvious that sister, brother, and myself end up helping out. It's not like tomorrow is too late after all.
Three hours later, it seems things ended as Dianne and the others returned. Since this is their home as well it's only obvious it would be strange if they didn't come back but I couldn't see Ruku. I was worried they might have gotten into a fight but it seems they want to let parent and child spend as much time as they can without outsiders before the wedding, or at least that was my parents idea. After Rozural heard the inn everyone was staying at I got on my horse and headed towards the workshop.
When I was about to tie up my war horse on the side of the pack horse and carriage in the back and,
"Who is it?"
and a sharp voice asking my identity called out. Oh, so you weren't asleep.
"It's me."
"Al?"
"Yeah."
"What's wrong? Weren't you inside of the dungeon?"
She asked a bit strange.
"I left this evening and received the message. And, I came over here in a hurry. Since it seems like dinner is over, it's time to alternate. I'll keep an eye out. It seems everyone is staying at "Perittsu". You know it right?"
"Oh, is that so? Then I'm going. Take care of things."
Show a bit of reservation...Though it's fine.
"Sister, what's doing on with the knight group for today?"
"Ah, since Whitney came after 4 pm, I had her wait until my job was over and I took the day off tomorrow. Commander Kendusu said it's fine if my parents are here and gave me permission. I came out with both of my arms open and waving."
Well, there's also the matter of the armor, I guess they couldn't help but go easy on her? I don't really know for sure though.
"I see. Then go ahead and go. I just saw their faces in the evening but sister probably hasn't seen them in quite a while. I think they'll be delighted."
"Yeah, see you later."
"Ah, we're meeting up tomorrow."
Sister got on my war horse and then started riding off, eh?
Change of clothes...
..............
Year 7444, Month 9, Day 18
Of course I don't want to behave cruel at all. Since it's not like I want to leave behind a bad name for my cruelty after all. And I'm only having this conversation because we're family. Of course, I do think that some kind of ideal or doctrine to advocate will be necessary. Well, just at the level of a heading."
"Mill."
"Wh~at? Father."
"I've already approved of what Al is doing. Do you want to interfere with your little brother who's desperately trying to cut open the path for his life? Do you only intend to complain to Al? I won't tell you cooperate or support him but at least approve of him."
"That is..I get that..but"
"But, what?"
"If it's like that then one day he might get tripped up.."
"That might be the case. Thought that might not be the case as well. Dreams and ideals are themselves important. Depending on the time and case they act as something people will dedicate their lives for. However, as long as you can prepare something else more important than that it's fine."
"What? Something important?"
"So you don't know..Farne, tell her about it."
"Yes, it's to protect the lifestyle of your citizens. In Al's case, since it's a country it would be his people. It means to create an environment where they don't starve, can peacefully give birth to the children who will carry the future, and raise them. Things like maintenance of laws and ideals or dreams that the majority will accept are next after that. Putting it simply a strong country. If you don't lose in wars then it's not so easy to starve. Since you can take reparations after all."
Honestly speaking, I was surprised at Mill. Or to be more precise with Mill, no, with the education that the Kingdom of Rombert provides it's direct knight group about the ideals and dreams of a "good" country. Though I think the only one offering this sort of advanced education is just Rombert Kingdom. Miki, hold back just a bit. By the way, the things father and brother said are things that are only obvious. They're probably universal no matter when the era or what the world it is.
Since living beings die if they can't eat after all.
And then, something like noble ideals are things you can't speak about if you're not living. Even Rombert Kingdom which is said to be the most abundant country out of the neighboring countries has famine that occurs somewhere once in every 10 years or so. I'm sure a lot of people starve to death as well. If it's other small countries then I'm sure the situation is even more serious. That's why Devas wants the Dirt Plains and why Rombert wants the Dirt Plains as well. They just can't seriously fight over it taking into consideration the damage taken from a large war, even if they win it's possible another country could invade.
If you're living in the capital or Baldukk you can live your life without feeling it too much but I'm sure even this very moment there's children and babies starving to death somewhere. Even in Marquis Webdos territory which is said to be comparatively wealthy in the Kingdom has villages that are poorer than Bakuddo was in the past. If it's a different territory then I'm sure it's even possible some villages have collapsed. It's no different in how if a disease spreads around several percent of the people will die and there's even cases when the central pillar of a family is included in there. It's even simple to die just from appendicitis.
I might be able to save a handful of them with spells. It might even be possible to discover or develop a spell that can cure disease. If Miduchi and my child (though there's no plans for now), Toris and Bel's child, or if Ralpha, Gwine, Zulu, Angela, or Giberuti have a child that has as much mana as sister when they grow up, that might be the time the country shows it's true worth.
If I think about it like that then I might be able to create a country which can guarantee the lifestyle of it's people above and beyond.
Eh? Zenom probably won't have anymore children right...
...............
That night, after taking a room in the inn "Perittsu", Mill and I were naked in beds next to each other while looking at the ceiling and talking.
"Al"
"Hn?"
"Since I was told by father, well it's not as if I can't accept it so I'll recognize it. Though I feel like it was just explained away as well. But you know.."
Mill raises her upper body and looks at me with a serious face before continuing her words.
"But, even if you somehow succeed in making your country, Rombert Kingdom will end up a foreign country."
"That's only obvious."
"His majesty might have made a promise on it but there might end up being a war with your country. What should I do at that time?"
Since that old man spit out words like a King must abide by the things he says, so unless I do something considerably excessive I don't feel like he will go against it but it's not an impossibility.
"..That's true. It would be the most convenient for me if you betray Rombert and come to my side I guess. But as expected I'm sure sister wouldn't do something like that. Next would be to sabotage and not participate in the war. But, sister is in the first knight group. I'm sure it's impossible.."
".."
"It's fine if you just come to take my head."
"Hmph, rest easy. If it comes to that then I myself will help you as an assistant in suicide."
Her chest is as pitiful as usual.
"Oh~ that's scary~ Then I need to make sure that doesn't happen while sister is still in active duty."
I closed my eyes.